Kofi Annan along with other former global leaders also known as “The Elders” have started their visit to Iran in order to promote dialogue between Iran and the International Community.

The Elders who aim to promote “peace and human rights” are hypocritically starting their visit at Khomeini’s (Also known as the Islamic Butcher) Mausoleum!

As a pro-democracy activist I oppose any diplomatic relations or visits with the Islamic Regime in Iran, which only serves to give the regime further legitimacy. I am disturbed to see Kofi Annan and others visiting Iran at a time where executions are at an all time high, and we hearing daily reports of arrests of political and human rights activists.

What is even more concerning is the fact that a group which claims to be promoting human rights is starting their visit at the Mausoleum of Khomeini, an Islamic dictator responsible for the torture, rape and execution of thousands of Iranians who opposed the brutal Islamic dictatorship!

Instead of visiting prisons where political prisoners are incarcerated, families of political prisoners or those who have been executed by the Regime or political and human rights activists “The Elders” are visiting the grave of a man who was the root of the Islamic dictatorship in Iran.

Clearly Kofi Anan and other former world leaders have no intention of promoting peace or human rights. Their focus is the nuclear issue as is the focus of the international community, and they have no problem giving the Islamic Regime the green light to continue with its systematic human rights violations in Iran!

Sayeh Hassan is an Iranian Canadian lawyer, blogger and pro-democracy activist

OPEN LETTER TO JOHN BAIRD: REFERENCE TO THE PERSIAN GULF AS THE “ARABIAN GULF”

Dear Minister Baird,

On January 16th 2014 during your address at the US Chamber of Commerce, you referred to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf.

As you are aware, for more than two millennia the location which you referred to as the “Arabian Gulf” has been referred to as the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf is the term officially recognized by the United Nations and the International Community.

While some Arab States have referred to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf”, this term is historically incorrect and not recognized by the international community. It is unfortunate that by using the term “Arabian Gulf” you have chosen to give legitimacy to this historically and factually incorrect term.

The Islamic Regime in Iran has tried for many years to destroy the heritage, history and the culture of Iran and the Iranian people. The Regime changed the name of Iran to “Islamic Republic of Iran”, while changing the ancient Iranian “Lion and Sun” flag and replacing it with a non-Iranian flag, in an unsuccessful attempt to erase the history and legacy of Iran.

The Islamic Regime in Iran has failed at its attempts, as people of Iran have always been proud of their history, legacy and culture. As part of keeping the Iranian history and heritage alive, Iranians have organized numerous successful international campaigns to protect the term Persian Gulf over the recent years.

As an Iranian-Canadian pro-democracy activist I am extremely disappointed to see that Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has chosen to use the incorrect term “Arabian Gulf” which not only gives legitimacy to this term, but is also seen as a sign of insult and great disrespect to the people of Iran.

While as an Iranian-Canadian I appreciate the tough stand Canada has taken against the Islamic Regime in Iran, I am extremely disappointed in your disregard for the rich history and culture of Iran which so many of us Iranians are proud of and are fighting to protect.

About This Writer

Sayeh Hassan is a criminal defense lawyer with Walter Fox & Associates and an Iranian Pro-Democracy activist. She is the author of the shiro-khorshid-forever blog (www.shiro-khorshid-forever.blogspot.com) which focuses on the pro-democracy movement and Regime Change in Iran. Through her pro-democracy activities she stays in close contact with activists in Iran as well as retaining contacts with various human rights and pro-democracy organizations abroad. She regularly speaks at conferences, has appeared on television and radio programs and her writing has been published by publications such as National Post, Toronto Star & Ottawa Citizen. She can be contacted at sayehhassan30@gmail.com